JG Pageau's absence robs the NY Islanders of depth, grit, and clutch reliability

As if the NY Islanders didn’t receive enough bad news after the team announced they’ll be without Alexander Romanov for 5-6 months, requiring shoulder surgery, but they also announced that JG Pageau is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. 

Injured in Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, Pageau showed no sign of being hurt as he completed the game and was even on the ice in the waning moments as the Islanders were chasing a game-tying goal.

Pageau listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury

While there’s no indication of when exactly Pageau sustained the injury, the 33-year-old center did take a hard collision into the boards after being on the receiving end of a Nathan Walker hit. 

Pageau, in the final year of a six-year contract, has been an anchor in the middle of the Islanders' third line since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators on trade deadline day in 2020. 

Though Pageau’s numbers aren’t astronomical, recording 12 points (6 G, 6 A) through 22 games, his presence will be missed as he’s been invaluable on the penalty-kill and the face-off dot.

Part of the Islanders’ top PK duo along with Simon Holmstrom, Pageau leads the NHL with four short-handed points (2 G, 2 A), including the game-winner in OT last week against the Vegas Golden Knights. Additionally, he’s won 59.5% of face-offs, as Patrick Roy has deployed the veteran at crucial moments at the dot.

Now, Casey Cizikas, who has been reduced to the team's fifth forward on the PK, will slot into Pageau’s role, with Emil Heineman stepping in as needed.

With Pageau in the final year of his deal, questions have been raised as to whether he could be dealt at the trade deadline for additional draft picks or prospects. With the way the Islanders and Pageau are currently playing, it would be difficult to move a player of his caliber with the Isles in the thick of the fight. But he will be a player sorely missed until he returns to the lineup.